mini ulta haul + review

i stopped by ulta last week & picked up a few little things i've been wanting to try for a while now. trips to ulta get me so excited, & i love picking up goodies just because!

♥ opi's 'ski teal you drop' : 10/10 - no issues here, as i have a pretty consistent love affair with opi & their polishes never fail. i don't have many blues in my polish collection & i can't wait to wear this color all the time, its great for winter (although our "winter" has been 60 degrees so far).

♥ nyx's eyeshadow base : 5/10 - i was searching for a cheaper alternative to urban decay's primer potion, which i've used for years. after a few days of trial i can safely say it doesn't match udpp, but it will work in a pinch.

♥ philosophy's purity : 8/10 - this cleaner is incredible. i wanted to resist purchasing it because i knew i'd love it, & i was right. it smells divine, makes my face feel truly clean & makes my skin look great. going back to drugstore cleanser probably won't happen now. i'm turning into a philosophy junkie! the only reason i rated 8/10 is because i will have to see how it goes with my skin for long term use, but so far, i'm quite impressed.

we built these paper mountains

winning the national championship on january 9th & partying on the strip, the '2011' added behind nick saban's statue, my vodka & cranberry at skybar in auburn, watermelon hookah at big daddy's, vanilla bean frap, dinner at moe's, dinner at panera bread, fresh manicure, my new yankee candle & new mineralized skin finish natural.

school has been busy as usual! lots will be going on with my internship this semester, & i'm really excited about it. i know the semester is in full swing when i'm drinking coffee every weekday. winning the game on the 9th was a great way to start off the year & its been amazing since then! i don't do resolutions, but i do want to try sushi this year - i guess i'll start off with california rolls, isn't that standard? i've already tried a lot of new things, like kickboxing classes. i think 2012 is going to be great, & i've never been one to be pessimistic about new beginnings.

my favorite bowtie pasta salad

this pasta salad is my #1 favorite. it's delicious, refreshing & dare i say, addicting. i can't stop eating it! my mother prepared this years ago, & i got a craving for it the other day when i rediscovered it on myrecipes. i made some slight modifications to fit my tastes & ingredient availability, so feel free to modify it as you wish.

• 3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard (i used dijon)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (i used leftover grilled chicken)
• 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes, halved (omitted!)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

bowl the pasta according to package directions. combine the first nine ingredients in a bowl & mix with a whisk. shred the chicken breasts, chop the red onions, chives & walnuts. combine all ingredients with the pasta & toss.

this is the perfect mid afternoon snack, side to a salad at lunch or side dish at dinner. i have found that this pasta salad can be enjoyed both warm & cold & with a variety of dishes to compliment it. i had it with a caesar salad yesterday & it was delicious. enjoy!

ps; an actual life update is coming soon! i've started classes again & i don't get home till 6 every day, & it's been busy seeing friends since i got back to tuscaloosa. i'm off to auburn for the weekend to spend time with the manfriend & then i'm back into the full swing of interning & class!

new handbag lust: lv speedy 25 damier ebene

this summer, my handbag lust was finally satiated when i received my marc by marc jacobs baby q groovee - and it's been my loyal companion ever since. i literally cannot get enough of that bag. sometimes, i'll glance over at it & smile fondly. it's the perfect size, the perfect material, & on top of that, it's gorgeous.

& to be honest, i kind of feel like i'm cheating on it. i used to hate louis vuitton bags. i'm not sure why, but i think it had a little to do with the classic LV print, of which i am still not the biggest fan. if you know me, you know i love bags. i'd rather shop for bags than clothing any day of the week. i was afraid that once i had acquired my lover baby q groovee, my heart would only settle on something else. it's been gradual, but here i am in full blown handbag love affair with the louis vuitton speedy 25 in damier ebene.

handbag gods, please stop with this. you're torturing me.